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| 3-24-00 Contacts: Ben Allen, Business, (515) 294-2422 Tom Mitchell, ISU Foundation, (515) 294-4607 Kevin Brown, News Service, (515) 294-8986 ISU COLLEGE OF BUSINESS RECEIVES $8 MILLION GIFT AMES, Iowa -- A Dallas businessman and his wife have given Iowa State University's College of Business an $8 million deferred gift. President Martin Jischke announced the gift from Steve and Becky Smith today (March 24). "Becky and I have been successful in business and we want to reward the training that we received," said Steve Smith, a native of Marshalltown who received a business degree from Iowa State in 1970. The Smiths' gift is part of a $35.5 million initiative for the ISU College of Business. The initiative was launched in October 1998 with a $10 million gift from Russell and Ann Gerdin, Coralville, and includes a $21.5 million facility to be built when state and private funds become available. The Smiths' gift will be used toward endowed chairs, professorships and student scholarships. "The generosity of Steve and Becky Smith is driven by their belief in what we are doing in educating future business and professional leaders, and in our research and outreach efforts that help people like the Smiths be even more successful," said Jischke. "To receive a gift like this from two very successful business people is a meaningful affirmation of what we are doing and what we are trying to do in the College of Business," said Ben Allen, dean of the college. "This gift will give the college tremendous momentum, and will help us attract and retain the highest quality faculty and best students." In 1996, Steve Smith founded Sales Insights, a consulting firm for the consumer packaged goods industry. He previously worked for Alberto-Culver Co., as national sales manager; Helene Curtis USA, as director of business planning; and Procter & Gamble, as a group marketing manager. Becky Smith has more than 20 years experience with IBM, working in the areas of hardware, software, client sales, marketing and customer service. She currently is IBM's Dell Strategic Alliance Executive. The Smiths' gift is part of the Iowa State University Foundation's $425 million Campaign Destiny, the largest fund-raising initiative in Iowa State history. The five-year campaign officially ends June 30. -30- |
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